Ohio’s top judge told hundreds of her colleagues today (Thursday) that she’ll keep pushing for them to get a pay raise. In her annual state-of-the-judiciary speech, Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor said she’s asked legislators to set up a commission that would recommend pay changes not only for judges but for all elected officials.

“Since 2008--it’s no secret--no judge in Ohio has received a raise. This has been the longest stretch of stagnation in judicial salaries since the 1950s. A national survey released in July noted that Ohio ranked at the bottom half of all 50 states for judicial pay.”

Chief Justice O’Connor also urged the Conference of Ohio judges not to rush to retirement, even though a new state law is looming that will cut retirement benefits for government employees.